Folding box



(No'Model.) v

1 W. C. L. BURGHARDT.

FOLDING BOX.

No. 438,403. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

WILLIAM O. L. BURGIIARDT, OF GREENFIELD, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BOX.

SPECIFICATION fOrming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 438,403,` dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed August 4, 1890. Serial No. 360.895. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLTAM O. L. BURG- HARDT, of Greenfield, iu the county of Greene and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Folding Packing-Case; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to a new folding packing-case designed chiefly for the transportation of light goods and live poultry.

My object is to provide a packing-case that can, when emptied of its contents, be folded up so as to occupy not more than about onethird of the space required for it when full, and consequently be returned for refilling at a much less cost for freight than the cases for the purposes above named now in use.

The details of the contrivance by which I accomplish my object I have fully explained in the following speeiticationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an end elevation of the case; and Fig. 2 is a plan View of the saine shown in section, taken in the line Y Y, Fig. l.

In the drawings, A A represent the two sides of the ease, B B the ends thereof, and O O the top and bottom. The ends B B are each made of two pieces secured together by hinges g and fastened to the side pieces A A by hinges d. The top and bottom are each formed of two pieces secured to the sides by hinges e, (see Fig. 1,) the several parts being secured in position so as to form a box or transportation-case by means of hooks and eyes, as shown in the drawings at 'r r, or by bolts or any other suitable fastenings.

When the case has to be returned empty, instead of occupying the same space as when filled, it can, by means of my contrivance, be so reduced in size as to occupy only about one-third of that space, and thus effect a great saving in freight charges.

The folding of the case is accomplished in the following manner: First the hooks or other fastenings are turned back, so as to be inoperative. The two halves of the top are then turned back against the sides.` The two halves of the bottom are in like manner turned back against the top halves, as indicated by arrows and broken lines on the right of Fig. l. Then the ends B B are pushed inward, as indicated by the arrows l and 2 in Fig. 2, until they are in the position shown at f in broken lines. As the ends are thus folded up, the opposite side A is drawn, as indicated by the arrow 8, into the position shown in broken lines at f. All ofsaid parts when thus folded together are securely held in position by hooks and eyes or any other ordinary fastening devices suitable for the purpose.

Vhen the device is employed for the transportation of live poultry, it is preferably made otl laths or narrow boards nailed to battens, S0

as to afford proper ventilation for its live contents. Otherwise it does not differ from the packing-case shown in the drawings.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A packing-case havingI one-half of the top and one-half of the bottom so hinged thereto as to fold up one against the other and against the outside ot' the case on each side, the ends B having folding hinges g and being secured to the sides of the case by hinges d, so as to fold inwardly against the inside of the case, all of said parts constructed, combined, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day ot' June, 1390.

WILLIAM C. L. BURGIIARDT.

lVitnesses:

RALPH METCALE, Ji R. SHEEEIELD. 

